What does it mean to love your neighbor? Scripture talks about this concept over and over. The Messiah mentioned these words just following his proclamation that loving YHWH is the most important commandment. 1 John 3:18 says that our love should be more than just words, it should be seen through our actions. Too often the action of this instruction gets lost to good intentions or busyness. Here are some practical ideas on how to show love in your community.
Fifty Ways to Love Your Neighbor:
1. Smile, wave, and say hello. Cultivate a friendly community atmosphere.
2. Look for opportunities to do good, especially to those who share a common faith with you.
3. Take a walk through your neighborhood and pray for the health, safety, and well-being of the residents.
4. Holding a grudge? Choose forgiveness and let go of that.
5. Encourage someone and build them up.
6. Say nice things about your neighbors. Cultivate an atmosphere of kindness over gossip or slander.
7. Visit orphans and widows. Offer support to those without family nearby. That could mean supporting a children's home, visiting a nursing home, becoming a foster family or adopting a child, sponsoring a child, checking in on elderly neighbors, etc.
8. Have things to downsize from your home? Offer them to friends or family, or donate items to a good cause. Thrift stores are an option but donations are also accepted by homeless and women's shelters, schools, ministries, and so on.
9. Support your local farmers. Get vegetables from a produce stand or a nearby farmers market.
10. Bring in a healthy snack to share at work or congregation.
11. Take groceries, a gift card, or a meal to a family in need.
12. Get the door for someone with their hands full.
13. Spread the word about garage sales and local businesses.
14. Volunteer at a charity working in your community.
15. Pay a visit to an elderly neighbor or nursing home.
16. Plant flowers in your yard. They brighten days and feed the bees.
17. Keep your home exterior and yard tidy, and pick up trash when you see it.
18. Be considerate about when you make a lot of noise.
19. Make conversation with people you see regularly.
20. Ask people questions. This develops relationships and can be the touch of kindness someone needs in their day.
21. Did you get great service somewhere? Offer a tip, leave a positive review online, or speak to a manager or owner about what a great job an employee did.
22. Pay someone a sincere compliment.
23. Make it a point to welcome the new person at work.
24. Send a note of encouragement to someone.
25. Celebrate someone else's good news.
26. Write an uplifting Scripture in sidewalk chalk on your driveway to encourage those who walk by.
27. Offer an evening of free babysitting to parents who could use a break.
28. Start an informal community watch group in your neighborhood to keep things safe.
29. Are the neighborhood kids playing in the street? Talk to their parents about your concerns for their safety.
30. Send a card or care package to someone away at college, stationed overseas, or serving as a missionary.
31. Offer to help an elderly or disabled neighbor with yard work.
32. Thank a teacher, pastor, coach, fire fighter, coworker, volunteer, etc. for how the impact they have made in your life.
33. Host a potluck to get to know neighbors better.
34. See someone who is being treated unfairly? Stand up for them.
35. Make it a point to include a shy or unpopular person in conversation and events.
36. Shop locally before heading to a box store or ordering online. Visit locally owned restaurants before heading to a chain.
37. Pray for insight on how to best show the Father's love to the people in your life.
38. Offer to pray with a friend when they share a need or concern.
39. Share your resources or knowledge with someone who could use a hand on a project.
40. Drive safely!
41. Invite someone you don't know very well for dinner or over for coffee.
42. Treat strangers and foreigners with kindness and respect, whether that's a refugee or someone who just moved from the next town.
43. Did you attend a community theater production or watch a high school basketball game? Offer sincere compliments or encouragement to those involved.
44. Share info about nearby job openings for those in need of employment.
45. Invite someone to join you for congregation or Bible study.
46. Set up a place for free stuff at your office or congregation, or host a clothing swap.
47. Use your social media to share truth and encouragement.
48. If a friend or neighbor loaned you something return it within a reasonable time frame, in good condition, with a thank you.
49. When you talk to others, speak the truth to them.
50. Offer mercy to those who wrong you. Pray for them and remember that everyone has bad days.
There are so many ways to love your neighbor! Sometimes what a person needs is an uplifting conversation, other times bringing a meal over speaks volumes. What are some ways that you have felt loved by your community?
